Stars beat Jets 5-4 in season opener as Kyle Connor nets hat trick

WINNIPEG — Mikko Rantanen had a goal and two assists and the Dallas Stars beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-4 Thursday night in the season opener at Canada Life Centre, a game that featured a hat trick from Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor and the long-awaited return of Jonathan Toews to NHL action.

Rantanen set the tone with the opening goal and finished with three points as Dallas held off a late Jets rally. Jason Robertson and Nils Lundkvist each had a goal and an assist for the Stars, while Tyler Seguin and Wyatt Johnston also scored. Jake Oettinger made 21 saves for Dallas. Connor’s three goals and Mark Scheifele’s three assists powered the Jets’ comeback attempt, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stopped 32 shots.

The teams traded early strikes in the first period as Rantanen, Kyle Connor and Lundkvist all scored, leaving Dallas with a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes. There was no scoring in the second, a period marked by Winnipeg taking five penalties and Dallas beginning a two-man advantage late in the frame. After Winnipeg’s first power play of the night expired, Robertson opened the third at 1:01. Seguin followed 34 seconds later, and Johnston added another at 3:23 to push Dallas ahead 4-1.